A sad reality of Hillary Clinton's career advice for women is that it's all about men. How to navigate the sexist taunts that arise in the workplace, how to be less of a perfectionist (because men don't bother), and how to handle double standards surrounding appearance and dress.

The former secretary of State presented this guidance in an interview with Glamour Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive, which will appear in full in the magazine's September issue. In it, Leive tells Clinton many young women don't want to run for office, that they think it's a blood sport, to which Clinton easily replies: It is. Below is her best advice on how to do it anyway.

1. Play the long game.

"It doesn't have to all happen when you're young—I mean, one of the most powerful women in American politics is Nancy Pelosi. She had five children. She didn't go into politics until her youngest child was in high school.... That's one of the great things about being a woman in today's world: You have a much longer potential work life than our mothers or our grandmothers did."

2. Practice public speaking.

"If you're not comfortable with public speaking—and nobody starts out comfortable, you have to learn how to be comfortable—practice. I cannot overstate the importance of practicing."

3. Ask for help.

"Too many people ... have this deep-seated fear that if they ask for help, they will be thought less of. In my [view], they'll be thought more of."

4. Don't be perfect, be willing to learn.

"You don't have to be perfect. Most men never think like that. They're just trying to figure out what's the opening and how they can seize it."

5. Don't be rattled by sexism, but do stand up for other women.

"I have generally not responded [to sexist comments] if it's about me. And I have responded if it's about somebody else, because if women in general are being degraded, are being dismissed, then I can respond in a way that demonstrates I'm not taking it personally but I'm really serious about rejecting that kind of behavior."

6. Your appearance shouldn't matter, but it does.

"I mean, clearly people should meet an acceptable threshold of appropriateness!... But I think that for many women in the public eye, it just seems that the burden is so heavy ... it takes a lot of time."

7. Listen to others in the workplace.

"Keeping your head down and doing the best job you can in the beginning gives you the opportunity to be evaluated on the basis of the contributions you are making. I often would listen more than talk in my early meetings with people."

8. But not too much.

"At the same time, you cannot be afraid to present yourself."

9. Forget insults.

" ... You just have to decide you're going to follow Eleanor Roosevelt's maxim about growing skin as thick as the hide of a rhinoceros, and you have to be incredibly well prepared—better prepared [than a man], actually ... and you have to have a support group around you, because it can be really a brutal experience."

10. If you think you don't want to run, think again.

" ... There are many ways to be influential. I mean, you can work for politicians ... or in government and make a difference."

By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or
otherwise objectionable. Although GovExec.com does not monitor comments posted to this site (and
has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems
to be in violation of this rule.

Join us at ELC 2017 - The Premier Conference for Federal IT Leaders
Are you results-driven? Successful in your field? A thought-leader? If so, then join us Oct. 29-31, 2017 in Williamsburg, VA to harness the unprecedented change that is occurring around us to make our federal government more effective, secure and citizen-driven. ELC 2017 is the must-attend government IT event connecting senior government and industry executives with innovative opportunities to engage, learn, and collaborate. Find out more: goo.gl/TpC6FQ goo.gl